Computers & Sibling LOVE

The kids have a new awareness about them. I think we have officially entered a new phase of development. Between the pretend play & the ability to actually focus on something that requires brain energy to figure out for longer than a split second, the results are interesting. Not only that but they are completely affectionate towards one another & us. They are constantly asking for hugs when they need comfort & stick up for one another or simply just enjoy cuddling together.

I managed to snap these pics the other morning, right after the kids got out of bed & were waiting for breakfast. I couldn't believe what I saw! Ian & Sofi totally cuddled up together playing w/ their laptops. Mind you, these laptops have not held their interest longer than a few minutes at a time but now that they 'get' what they are suppose to do w/ them, it is a whole new world of discovery!

Now tell me this isn't what all mommies dream of?!?


Could they be more comfortable? Ok, could Ian not be any more comfortable?


Really enjoying it!


Gabi decided to get in on the action so she got her computer & climbed up on the couch.


The changes happening are indescribable. Seeing 3 beautiful babies develop right before your eyes, discovering new things & letting their imagination run wild is an experience I wouldn't change for the world. What a special time for us & the kids!

Babies, babies, babies...

We've hit that age. You know, the age they start pretending. It is the cutest thing ever to watch the kids give their "babies" food, milk, take them for a walk, try to change their diaper, wrap them up or put them in time out. Yes, they put their babies in time out. Wish I knew what the babies did to get put in time out b/c I have perfect angels & they NEVER get time out (haha, wink-wink...that's a little white lie).

Here is a very cute video of the kids walking their babies around in their strollers.



They have also recently started playing w/ their kitchen. They played w/ it before but not for it's intended purpose. They would hide things in the refrigerator, oven & microwave but now they actually wash dishes, wash their hands, put food in the microwave & cook on the stove. Not to mention, before bed, they put their milk up. What a change in the past month or so!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Don't even ask how long this took.
Cuz, it took a while.
But we will do anything for our Daddy!

Happy Birthday!
We love you!

Astrid, Sofia, Gabriella, & Ian

Hot Date ~ Cirque de Soleil

Todd's b-day is tomorrow & to celebrate, we went to see Cirque de Soleil on Saturday, as a surprise. Unfortunately, the surprise was taken out of the equation. See, Todd NEVER reads my Facebook & I happened to post about the events that evening. AND? He read them. Dumb-dumb.

Either way, he was totally stoked. We went to a new restaurant called Merche. It was excellent! We really enjoyed ourselves. The food was so good. Like really, really good. After dinner, we went to the show.

I'm going to be honest, I was a bit disappointed when we drove up & didn't see the big tents. That is the ONLY way to see a Cirque show. Not to mention, the venue was on school district grounds so pooh, no more cocktails for the evening.

BUT, as much as that was a disappointment, the show was excellent! We saw Alegria, for the second time. Todd took me as a surprise in 2003. The show was very different. Good but different. The music, the same but the acts were not what we saw before. That is the amazing thing about Cirque shows. Everything is different.

Along the way, I took pics w/ our camera as well as my new phone. Much better quality than the last phone I had.

Me all dressed up & feelin' good! It isn't every day that I get to put makeup & a pretty dress on. I wanted to look hot for my man!


Todd & I leaving for the evening. Thankfully Tio Ian & Tia Jessy were babysitting so we could enjoy the night.


The view from our seats :)


A standing sign you could take pics of or in front of. I love this show!

We LOVE our Daddy!

Todd is the most wonderful father known to man. Seeing him be silly w/ the kids & enjoying them is priceless. Today was all about him. It was fun signing the card & even better, bringing Daddy his presents. Everyone got a special breakfast by Mommy. Daddy even got to take TWO naps today!

The kids all ready to walk in to give Daddy his gifts.


Ianchito being a cheese ball.


The kids were so excited! It's like they really "got it" this time. They knew the presents weren't for them & were so cute giving them to Daddy!


Gabi was totally excited!

Reading his "Daddy Certificate".


One of several attempts at getting a decent pic of Daddy w/ the kids. HA!


Watching Mommy cook breakfast while watching Handy Manny. They really dig that show!


Daddy eating breakfast w/ the kids. No, we don't have a table for the whole family to eat. Yes, we are working on it.

Oma :)

My mom's mom...Oma, is 85 years young. She is battling Alzheimer's & most days, she struggles to remember the kids' names. BUT, when she is here, she has so much fun w/ them. They love to sit in her lap. LOVE it.

Honestly, I think she loves it just as much, if not more. Something about the elderly & the babies, right? They have a connection. Instant. When Oma & the kids are together, it is magic. I'm so very glad that the kids can play & know their great grandmother b/c that isn't the norm. Not this far in life.

What precious moments!

Sofi & Oma sitting together, happy as can be!


All the LOVED hanging out in the chair w/ Oma.


But I think Oma & Gabi had a special conversation going.


And isn't this the cutest picture of Gabi...EVER?


What a blessing to have Oma w/ us still!

We HEART Stickers

I'm not sure if there is much to say.
The kids love stickers.
Mommy, not so much.

Why?
Because I find them everywhere
they aren't suppose to be.
On our wood floors.
In their cribs.
On their foreheads.
In their hair.
On the baby's head.
Stuck to the leather couch.
Let's not forget the cabinet doors.
Oh, & my fave,
places not to be named.

Don't ask me how they get there.
I wish I knew.
Scary.

Cheesing for the camera.
Actually, reaching for the camera.
With stickers on the forehead.
HA!




Going crazy over stickers & crayons.




Sofi's obsession.
She's so proud.

My very FIRST girls' night out!

April 2007. It's been that long. No, I'm not joking. I was I was. The truth of the matter is that since April 2007, things have been hectic. A little recap for those of you just picking up on the blog...

April 25, 2007 ~ Todd gets struck by lightning.
May 2007 ~ Trip to St. Augustine, FL to visit Todd's best friend.
Early June 2007 ~ Decision to do IVF.
Late June 2007 ~ Start IVF cycle.
August 22, 2007 ~ Egg retrieval & hospital stay for overstimulated ovaries
August 25, 2007 ~ Embryo transfer
September 3, 2007 ~ I'm pregnant!
September 25, 2007 ~ The BIG ultrasound. We are having triplets!

The whole time, I was working. That is until December 17, 2007 when I was put on strict bed rest. That was the end of any future nights out for a very long time. So, you see, I really deserved it. I've missed having girl time w/ my BFF, Stacey.

I met at her apartment, had a cocktail. Let me tell you that my cocktail was very weak b/c I am no longer the drinker I use to be. Ok, I'll admit it, I can't have more than 2 w/o feeling it the next day. That was my limit for the night & I'm proud to say, I stuck by that limit. Not only b/c of the next day but also b/c I have 3 kids that depend on me to make it home.

In other words, no risky behavior. I think I am a certified adult now. My, how priorities change. The thing is that I'm ok w/ that change. After a snack of appetizers at a really GOOD Mexican/Spanish restaurant & my 2nd drink, a frozen margarita, it was off to see a fabulous 80's cover band called The Spazmatics that Stacey has been trying to get me to go see for 2 years. They were all the hype! Besides, if you haven't figured it out, I'm a bit of an 80's fan.

I had a curfew. Yes, a 35 year old woman w/ a curfew. Originally it was 11 but b/c of the late start since Todd had to work late, I pushed that curfew back to midnight. I made it home at 12:02.

It was a fantastic evening & I'm glad I got to spend some quality time w/ Stacey. BUT, I gotta tell you, that is going to be a once in a blue moon activity. Let's face it, I'm getting older. I'm not old but my body can't handle the abuse. Totally worth seeing my babies' smiling faces the next morning.

I do think dinner once a month is in order. Curfew a bit earlier but still some good girl time w/ my BFF. We need that time together, for our friendship, for our souls. I may be a full time mommy but even mommy needs some girl time.

Potty Training

I'm scared. It isn't going to be easy. I don't want to spend all my time in the bathroom. The small 1/2 bath downstairs. No thank you. It gets too crowded. You'll see what I mean when you get to the pics.

See, this is how it works. One wants to go on the potty. It takes about 15 minutes of sitting there for NOTHING to come out only for them to promptly poo in the diaper a few minutes later. Yes, I've tried keeping them on the pot longer. No, it hasn't worked, obviously.

Back to the point. Ones asks & well, you know what happens. Monkey see, monkey do. The other 2 have to be on the pot. It's hectic. Really hectic & well, there isn't much room. But I already mentioned that.

Not sure how we are going to proceed w/ the potty training. We got a book that claims to potty train in a day. I'm not sure how that will work but I'm willing to give it a try. At the very least.

If that doesn't work. God help us. I'm willing to hear any advice you may have to offer, especially if you have multiples. And for the record, we have not officially started. The time we spend on the pot is really more to get to know it.

Gabi wanted to read during her special time on the potty. Yes, it is a People.

The girls together & of course, Ian wanted in on the action.


So his pants & diaper came off. And he got on his own potty.


I know they'll kill me one day for posting these pics, hehe.

Some of the stuff I've been making :)

This is what has been keeping me busy. Yes, that busy. Did I mention that I'm also trying to raise triplets? Um, yeah. So that is why I've been lame about writing. Well, that & the fact that Todd & I went out-of-town this weekend. Sans kids. Alone time. It was great but not long enough.

Yes, I just said "not long enough". I think I might be ready to venture out longer than 24 hours. GASP!

Anywho, I picked up some really cool red/white/blue fabric on red tag clearance & have been sewing like crazy. I'm enjoying it & the skirts, shorts, dresses & accessories are really cute. I'm talking super cute. And since the girls are getting in to posing, they have become my models & muses.








I've also made Ian some really cute matching shorts but he didn't get to model them today. Daddy is working late which means I'm a busy momma. Gotta go!

And the winner is...

MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!
And my beautiful Gabi Girl!

WOW!

I'm just totally stoked.
Don't know if I have much more to say than that.
I have never really won anything BIG like this.

Check out the announcement on her blog...

Monkey Tree Photography

I just hope she will take pics of all 3 kids.
YAY!

Thanks to all that took the time to vote,
whether it was once or daily.
It all counted!

PS ~ More blogging to come.
I promise, I haven't been slacking.

Ian's new "braces"...SMO's.

I'm not sure that I will call them braces b/c the truth is they look like ankle supports. They are cute. I like them much better than the old clunkers. Happy we had the clunkers but much happier that we don't have them anymore. No more bruises for all of us. Him, me, Sofi, Gabi, Daddy, & anyone else that plays w/ him.

Look at the difference...the 1st pair are AFO's & bulky. I think I mentioned the bulky part, right? Oh & the bruises caused by these things, horrible. Oh, I mentioned that too.



The new SMO's, AKA Sure Steps.


From the front, you can't even see them.


From the back & side, you can barely see them AND, he can wear regular socks!


We left the AFO's at the orthotics office w/ Jason. He collects them & goes to Guatemala once a year, where the kids that need them can use them. The USA won't allow the braces to be refurbished & given to another child. Sad. At least we can help another child.

I can't wait to see my little man on the move!